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He seems an impressive coach, the only thing I would worry is that he seems a bit flightly when it comes to staying in a job esp if the board or the association are not professional or behind him. If he got the job I reckon he would be gone within a year.
Can soccerc confirm that Givens and Houghton are unwilling to continue beyond this weekend as part of the amigos?
Didn't cause problems for Big Jack.Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
Its a load of f8cking shi* and all the speculation is doing my f8cking head in. Am I the only person who feels like this?!
Panic beckons as FAI search stumbles on
Tuesday January 29 2008
THE FAI will have to make a panic decision or else wait until after the friendly with Brazil to appoint Ireland's new manager unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances in the 98-day search.
Number one target Gerard Houllier turned down the post last Friday and indicated that he was out of the running, although kingmakers Don Howe, Don Givens and Ray Houghton may yet seek permission to go back to the Frenchman with another offer.
The problems with the former Liverpool manager should have left the path open for Terry Venables to succeed Steve Staunton, but there appears to be reluctance among the FAI top brass about giving the job to the ex-Spurs and England boss.
Rushed
Considering that Houllier and Venables have been the two front-runners for some time, the ushering through of a new man at this juncture would be something of a rushed choice.
Givens will be engaged in the Irish camp from Sunday in the build-up to next Wednesday's friendly with Brazil at Croke Park, while FAI chief executive John Delaney is on UEFA congress duty in Zagreb later this week.
His absence means that the selection panel will be unable to report to the board of management until Saturday, barring the unlikely event of rapid developments before Delaney's departure tomorrow.
Sources have suggested that Liam Brady could emerge as a compromise candidate, although that would leave the three amigos open to a large degree of criticism.
Brady was told earlier in the race that he did not have the necessary managerial experience to take the job and would not be interviewed.
At the beginning of the process, it was made clear that the chosen candidate would have experience in the international field or a recent top level track record of note. The Arsenal legend does not qualify under either category.
Last Thursday, Givens -- when naming the squad for the friendly with Brazil -- was adamant that the manager's job spec had not changed. The three headhunters are thought to be completing their final few interviews but none of those yet to be seen -- they include he likes of Billy Davies and Lawrie Sanchez -- are serious competitors -- or were not intended to be anyway.
It's believed that, while the FAI have publicly stated that there is no rush on the appointment of a new manager, there is private concern about the length of the process.
Already, Ireland look set to miss out on a March friendly as the FAI were waiting on the appointment of a new man to sort the situation out.
Similarly, they are yet to finalise their plans for the summer as that's a decision for Staunton's successor.
It means that currently there are just three friendly matches scheduled before the World Cup qualifiers begin in September in the form of the Brazil encounter, the May meeting with Serbia and the August trip to Norway.
Even if a new man is appointed before the Brazil game, Givens has said he won't have any hand in preparations.
Stuttering
That would leave the new man with just two games on the schedule before September.
Staunton had three friendlies under his belt before he got his tenure off to the stuttering start from which he never really recovered.
The headhunters are believed to be keen to draw the process to a close and it seems as though they reckoned that would be the case when agreement on Houllier was reached.
A combination of the French Football Federation (FFF) digging in their heels and concerns about the package on offer forced a delay in proceedings.
Increasing the financial deal for the 60-year-old may not be possible due to rumblings within the association about the substantial cost.
As the impasse continues, it was an extremely quiet day in the betting market yesterday by the standards of recent weeks.
Venables remains a firm favourite, but mainly due to the lack of an outstanding challenger after the price of Houllier drifts.
An expected punt on Jean Tigana has not quite materialised although the former Fulham boss remains prominent in the market".
So according to the Indo, the FAI ARE quibbling about the cost of Houllier.
Could Fat Sam nab an interview this week and become the compromise candidate? I'd imagine the interview committee are looking for a way out of this and Sam could be it.
I reiterate my previous point!!!
Don't worry!! The end is in sight. There shouldn't be more than another 5 or 6 weeks left in this.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
Exactly. 5 or 6 weeks and we should definitely have a provisional shortlist...Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
...to determine who's on the next selection panel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebeard
rumour has it the fai are after daglish? afaik him & pat devlin are good buddies
I'd rather Venables than Dalglish. I'd say the modern game has now completely passed him by.
Yep, I'd believe every rumour (about 60 and counting) I'd hear.Quote:
Originally Posted by wexman
My own feeling, and I have repeated this a few times, is that the choice has been made and the contract is being ironed out and if that fails, then it's on to choice two for contract negotiations and so on.
The FAI cannot therefore make any statement at the moment until it's a done deal for obvious reasons. The crux (cruces?) will obviously be annual salary and the length of the contract. The candidate will look for a million plus and 4 years and the FAI will offer half of that and 2 years and then the negotiations begin.
who is choice number two exactly?Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
its not venables according to the reports.
I thinlk they will try and get Coppell to reconsider. Venables would be third choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
"Reports" ? Wait until you hear something Official and pay no heed to "reports" which are usually based upon a taximan hearing the lavatory attendant at the FAI saying something to his pet hamster.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
Are any of the bookies offering a price on Ron Atkinson yet? :eek:
It can only be a matter of time...;)
what i mean is that if venables is their second choice like your suggesting, why didnt they offer him the job on friday when houllier turned it down. if venables was offered the job he wouldnt take 5 days to weigh it up he'd bite their hands off. all this suggests (and reports in the newspaper coming to the same conclusion) that they as yet dont have a second choice candidate.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
HERES THE NEW IRISH MANAGER
http://www.pro-paul.net/baggio/pics/...trapattoni.jpg
giovanni trapattoni
I was sceptical but if you have a picture well, I'm convinced!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Man Himself
Betfair odds are lengthening after Sky exclusively revealed Trap is in 'secret talks'. Hmmmm...
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Man Himself
oh god no...........an Italian version of Big Sam:(